African Musical Instruments

The traditional musical instrument used in African music was, and still is, the drum. There are different types of drums used in different parts of the country. The West African talking drum has an hourglass shape and two heads covered with fish, lizard or goatskin. There are straps that connect the heads with each other and these straps are used for tuning the drum. The use of these drums can be traced back to the ancient empire of Ghana. They are used in playing the music of Senegal and in Nigeria, where it is called the dundun.

A bourgarbou is a set of drums commonly used in playing West African music. These drums have one head covered with cow skin. They have an elongated shape and are placed on a stand in a set of three or four drums. Another drum used in West Africa is the djembe. This is a hand drum that is shaped something like a large goblet, about 12 inches in diameter and 24 inches in height. Players use their bare hands to play this instrument.

Water drums are common in both Central and West Africa. These drums have a unique sound because the sound depends on the amount of water in the drums. Players use a thick drumstick with a loop on the end. The Ngoma drums are made of wood, with the heads covered with cow skin. They are usually played in sets of seven with each drum having its own unique sound.

Other musical instruments associated with African music include rattles and shakers, such as:

Kosika – two small gourds filled with beans
Rainstick – a hollow tube filled with beads or beans. There are pins on the inside as well. When the stick is turned upside down it makes the same sound as rain.
Bells
Woodsticks